Study on the prevalence, seasonality and intensity of dicrocoeliasis in small ruminants of East Azerbayejan

Dicrocoeliasis، one of the six more important helmint infections of ruminants cause reduction in animal production and condemnation of infected livers. Between January 2007 to end of December 2008 in 4 Easte Azarbayeja abattoirs and in each seasonthe liver of 600 sheep and goats were examined for determination of prevalence and seasonality of Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Meanwhile in 120 condemned liver total number of worm were counted and recorded. Our findings revealed 32. 8% of sheep and23. 6 % goats harbored D. dendriticum in their livers. Significant difference was noticed between the percentage of infection in sheep and goats (p=0. 00016) Meanwhile the rate of infection in male and female (p= 0. 0001) and in different season (p=0. 0003) wassignificant. Out of 120 condemned liver examined 20% harbored 1- 100، 46. 6%، 100 -500، 14. 16 %، 500 - 1000 and 19. 6% more than 1000 D.